Ruling from the Umpires..."The Ryan Fisher Rule"

Most of you are aware of the craziness that happened in the 5th inning of last week's game, to sum up, here's what I wrote to our league commissioner:

"Mauldin had a girl at bat who had hit line drive singles over the 3rd baseman's head her previous 2 at bats. For this at bat our 3rd baseman (Ryan Fisher) lined up just off the infield on the outfield grass behind 3rd (this is debatable, but for argument sake, let's just say he did). She hit a ground ball to him and he threw her out at first. The umpire at 1st called her out and she went back to the bench. At this point, something was said by Mauldin's coach at which time the home plate umpire conferred with the 1st base umpire and then they put her back on first base...no out. I was told by the first base umpire that the reason she wasn't out was because our third baseman can't start out on the grass, he has to be on the infield dirt when a girl is at bat. I didn't argue it then because I wasn't sure about the rule, but I checked, and it's not on our Co-Ed rule sheet (the only rule about actual defensive field position is that "All outfielders must play behind the line marked in the outfield until the ball is hit")."

This was the umpire association's response:

"In my opinion the umpires made a ruling that is not really covered fully in the rule book. In the rule book under Rule 1 the definition of the

Infield. The infield is that portion of the field in fair territory that includes areas normally covered by infielders.

and the next definition clarifies an

Infielder. An infielder is a fielder is a fielder who defends the area of the field around first, second, third, or shortstops areas. (This assists in determining the positioning for the coed slow pitch game).

The umpires probably should have required the third baseman to come back onto the dirt portion to comply with the definition of an infielder prior to the pitch to the batter. This would be similar to the outfielders being required to be behind the line drawn on the outfield ground. I can not find a ruling for the play that happened I would think the ruling should be similar to when a fielder was caught using an illegal glove to make a play. In that situation the coach of the team that is batting has the option:

To take the result of the play and disregard the use of the illegal glove (which could be an out but a run could have scored on the play).

Or to have all base runners to return to the base they were at before the play happened and the batter would return to the batters box and assume the ball and strike count that he had prior to the play and the out would not count.

Just like the outfielders can not play too close to the infield, the infielders should not be allowed to position themselves beyond the infield dirt by the definitions above. I will talk the play over with the umpires involved and hopefully we will call that play the way I have described unless I hear or find out something different. It is a tough play to rule on because there is no ruling to cover it in the rule book."

Basically, the girl should not have been given first base, either she is out or she continues her at bat as if the previous pitch and resulting play never happened.

Nicely done Fisher!